🎙️ Episode 22 – adidas | Performance, Purpose & Progress with Chris Walsh, VP Brand - North Europe adidas Hosted by Matt Ward (Supersonic) & Phil Benton (Running Industry Alliance) In this episode, we sit down with Chris Walsh to explore how adidas continue to shape the running landscape - blending performance innovation, purpose-driven action, and a future-focused mindset. We dive into 👇 🏃‍♂️ The evolution of adidas in running with a discussion about product development,...

🎙️ In this episode of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast, we’re diving into Global Running Culture 2025 – a first-of-its-kind collaboration between research and creative agency Redtorch and Running Industry Alliance (RIA). Host Matt Ward is joined by Rebecca (Becs) Richardson (RIA CEO & Co-Founder) alongside Jonny Murch (CEO, Redtorch) and Karishma Riar (Head of Research & Insights, Redtorch) for a fascinating conversation on how running culture is evolving worldwide. Together, we ...

Episode 20 – Running Industry Alliance Podcast with James Shipley (ATW Events) Episode Overview In Episode 20, Matt and Tom delve into the huge and consistent rise in demand for endurance events with James Shipley from ATW Events - responsible for over 100 multisport events annually. James shares ATW’s origin in 2011 as a passion project from long-distance racing & nutrition, evolving into one of the UK’s largest event portfolios. The Event Boom James highlights record-breaking perf...

In this episode of the RIA Podcast, we dive into the world of Retail, Brand and RIA! Pro:Direct with Katie, shares valuable insights from one of the UK’s leading premium online sports retailers. Co-hosted with Matt and Phil. With a rich heritage dating back to 1981 and a pioneering online presence since 1998, Pro:Direct has evolved alongside the industry - offering a specialist approach to running and an athlete-focused mindset that drives performance, innovation, and growth. Key ...

Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic – Episode #18 featuring Andrew Smith now live! Matt and Tom are in conversation with Andrew Smith, CEO at A.S.O. UK. In this episode, we are joined by Andrew Smith, CEO of A.S.O. UK, to talk about his fascinating journey from early beginnings in event operations to leading some of the UK’s biggest and most ambitious mass participation events. From “tea boy to CEO” (his words!), Andrew shares how early roles shaped his passion fo...

Matt and Tom are in conversation with David Bone, Running Coach and Race Director at Camino Ultra. In this episode you learn more about Camino and how it’s all about inclusivity, how Camino came about, the importance of local based events and communities, and the power of being local with their strong East London roots. David talks about his journey in ultra running and how, in addition to the established events, Camino Ultra has built something that could take the community side ...

Episode 16 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic features a wrap up from The Running Conference 2024 presented by haku, catching some of the energy and buzz from the floor. This episode includes sound bites from: Becs Richardson, Running Industry Alliance & The Running ConferenceJackie Levi, hakuDavid Allen, Zen Running ClubNicola Fitzmaurice, Revive ActiveTiffany K Martin, RIA Host / Elevated Health And CommunitySimon Freeman, Like The WindYou can watch ...

Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic - Episode #15 featuring James Thurlow now live! Matt and Tom are in conversation with James Thurlow, MD of Open Tracking.James’ journey in the running industry stretches back nearly two decades, initially as an event organiser but now providing the largest live GPS tracking service to some of the industry’s biggest brands and foremost events.Having been encouraged to keep his product alive after initial challenges, Open Tac...

Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic - Episode #14 featuring Lia Fyles now live! Matt and Tom are in conversation with Lia Fyles, Race Director of the London Landmarks Half Marathon."When you think about who are the faces of the LLHM, it’s not the celebrities or the athletes, it’s the fundraisers. We’ve always awarded Bib Numbers 1-10 not to our fastest runners but to special fundraisers who have gone above and beyond."In this episode we speak with Lia Fyles, ...

Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic – Episode #13 featuring Vicki Turner now live!Matt is in conversation this month with Vicki Turner, Sales & Marketing Manager at Bridgedale. “All we are trying to do is keep people comfortable on the trails, whether they are walking or running. That’s it, that’s our end goal to make durable, comfortable socks. It’s a small ambition if you like but it makes a big difference to people.” Vicki Turner, Bridgedale ...

Matt and Becs are in conversation with Hannah Beecham MBE, Founder of RED January."When RED January began it was at the point in time when we were really on the cusp of talking about the relationship between movement and mental health. Now we know the benefits it is really around empowering and supporting people to move in a way that works for them" Hannah Beecham MBE RED January is designed to support people through winter and tackle increasing inactivity levels. Recent research shows t...

Matt and Tom are in conversation with Charlie Allen, founder of Run Social.‘RUN SOCIAL is a free after work weekly networking event designed to create a healthy, fun, and alcohol free platform for socialising, networking and exercising. It is a social running club where people can enjoy their running, improve the health, and meet new friends and expand their professional networks all at the same time.’In this episode we hear all about the rapid growth of Run Social, Charlie’s own journey with...

Welcome to Episode 10 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic! Matt is in conversation this month with James Vickers, CMCO of Muuvr."Muuvr is much more than a sports rewards app. It is the heart and soul of a new breed of visionary sports community that is committed to independence, inclusiveness, transparency and the transformative power of sport to move the human race forward".JOIN THE REVOLUTION, JOIN THE MUUVMENT In this episode we discuss the fast dev...

Welcome to Episode 9 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic! Matt & Becs are in conversation this month with David Birch, CEO & Founder of Endurance Zone and Creator of CEO Unplugged.“The rewarding way to engage, retain and learn about your customers”We are keeping the conversation going in this episode looking at areas like:> Fast growth of a business and how to manage that> Funding tips and business learnings> Finding a key focus on rewards ...

Welcome to Episode 8 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic! “Getting more women on start lines and making racing better for women”Matt & Tom are in conversation this month with Sophie Power, Founder of SheRACES. Sophie Power, GB Ultramarathoner famous for running the UTMB 106 mile race whilst breastfeeding her 3 month old as she was denied the opportunity to defer her place, founded SheRACES to get more women on start lines, improve their experience ...

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonicToday is World Mental Health Day, a day to talk about mental health and remind everyone that mental health matters. It’s also a day to let people know that it’s okay to ask for help, no matter what you’re going through. An appropriate day to release the latest Running Industry Alliance (RIA) Podcast, episode #7 “Men's Mental Health - A Personal Journey and now a career” with Andy Caine. An honest...

Welcome to Episode 6 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic! The Future of Recruitment Matt & Jonathan are in conversation this month with Wayne and Sophie of Drayton Partners. Dayton Partners are a bespoke executive search firm, with a specialism in the Consumer Goods. Including sectors such as Apparel & Footwear, Food & Drink, Lifestyle and Consumer Tech. Drayton’s vast industry experience and deep search experti...

Welcome to Episode 5 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic! Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)Matt & Becs are in conversation this month with Pinky Ghadiali, CEO of Netwomen Netwomen helps organisations increase profits by retaining and elevating talented female leaders to bridge the gender and ethnicity gap and keep them there. Workplace diversity is listed as an important factor by 67% of job seekers when choosing an employer, with GenZ l...

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic! Participation and Women's Running : Gateway into Ultra and moreMatt & Becs are in conversation this month with Nick Tuppen, CEO of Threshold Sports; a company that lives and breathes their mantra of #MoreIsInYou. Their purpose is to help people realise their potential by creating world-class events that make the seemingly unobtainable, obtainable.Providing this platform has seen them i...

Welcome to Episode 3 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic! Women's Running and Participation : Addressing Challenges and Fostering Collaboration. Matt & Becs are this month with inspiring guest Holly Woodford, the Co-Founder along with Mel Berry of Her Spirit, which is on a mission to make it easier for 1 million women to get active and healthier together. Holly is also the presenter of the Women’s Sport Disrupt series which launched in April...